I give you permission

to write that poem
even if it really isn't all that good

to tell that joke
even if you always mess up the punchline

to wear that outfit
even if those boots really don't go

to feel proud of yourself
even if you're only scraping by

to love yourself
even if you acknowledge your shortcomings

to accept yourself
even if you've told yourself that
everyone who respects you does so because they don't know everything

to be imperfect
even if you dream of being someone so great and feel like you're so small

I give you permission
to be a poem
even if it won't be a very good one.